Is Mexico safe for tourists?

Is Mexico safe for tourists?
Now that we’re on a brand new version of the forum it’s probably a good idea to bring this topic back up since it is one many potential tourists ask over and over again.
Let’s talk statistics.
Violence in Mexico is serious. Its homicide rate according to the United Nations Office on Drugs & Crime Report in 2010 is 22.7 murders per 100,000 compare to the US rate of 4.8 per 100,000 and Canada’s rate of 1.6 per 100,000 people. See
http://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/statistics/crime/Homicide_statistics2012.xls
However if you look specifically at tourist destinations here in the USA and tourist destinations in Mexico, you may want to question just what “safe” really means. For example popular destination Orlando, Florida had a 2010 homicide rate of 7.5 murders / 100,000 which is significantly higher than Cancun (1.8 / 100K).
New Orleans, another popular destination here in the USA, has a homicide rate ten times that of the USA as a whole and more than twice that of Mexico in 2010. Would you cancel your trip the Big Easy because of this? I didn’t and had a great time in New Orleans.
http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2010/crime-in-the-u.s.-2010/tables/10tbl08.xls/view
Take a look at the US State Department’s travel advisory for Mexico. You’ll find that most of Mexico is not on the “avoid this place” list. And the places that are listed are places tourists would typically not visit (For example the four northern states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango and Tamaulipas). Of the 5.7 million US visitors to Mexico last year the State Department reported 120 were murdered. Statistically one could argue you are less likely as a tourist to be murdered in Mexico than you are as a resident in the USA. Now if you happen to be a member of a cartel then all bets are off of course.
However it does pay to be vigilant no matter where you travel either at home or abroad. Don’t flaunt wealth – cash, cameras, smart phones – to tempt petty thieves. Don’t wear any watches or jewelry you can’t afford to lose. Keep a copy of your passport’s ID page and a record of your credit card numbers with international direct dial telephone numbers in case of loss. I scan my passport page and credit cards with contact phone numbers then send the images to myself via secure e-mail so I can get them anywhere in the world. Use your hotel safe. Don’t carry more cash than you need for the day. Talk to your hotel manager/concierge and ask about any local crime concerns; is there anywhere tourists should avoid?

RE: Is Mexico safe for tourists?

I want to thank PAWeber who always has accurate and to the point posts.

Yes you can travel safely in Mexico. As PAWeber said - check the US State Department's Travel Advisory for the places to avoid as you would check for advisories for any trip you intend to take. I live and have had my cooking school in Tlaxcala for 20 years. The area here is as quiet and safe as it was when we started. Tlaxcala was named the safest state in Mexico last year and we have had hundereds and hundreds of guests and have never had any question of lack of safety.

Please come and enjoy Mexico and feel free to check with me if you would like current information on Mexico in general or the Tlaxcala area in particular. I would be most happy to answer your questions.

RE: Is Mexico safe for tourists?

I have travelled extensively in Mexico by bus, car, train and plane and just recently spent a week in Tlaxcala and another week in Mexico City. I have never felt unsafe, have never witnessed any violence and have found the Mexican people to be friendly, helpful and concerned that tourists to their country have a good experience. That being said, while travelling I behave the same way I do at home in Vancouver. I don't flash money around nor do I walk on deserted beaches at 3am. My experience has been that Mexico is perfectly safe for travel.

RE: Is Mexico safe for tourists?

We travelled to Mexico this spring, visiting Mexico City, Xochimilco (not far from Mexico City), Playa del Carmen, Cozumel and we never felt unsecure or had safety problems! The "Zona Rosa" where we stayed, is a very safe area with offices, Police Department and shopping centres but also other areas we visited of Mexico City, seemed to be very safe and controlled by Police!

You only have to pay attention and avoid the border area between Mexico and the United States and a few others (Veracruz and Mazatlan)...

Anyway, enjoy your travel to Mexico which is for sure a very interesting and nice Country to visit!!